Review of The Thin Charade

[Maggie Johnson 2]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Thin Charade" by Cathy Coburn.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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What would you do if you suspected your husband was a serial killer? Barbara and Mitchell have been happily married for eleven years. Then, one day, she stumbles across a grisly story about a man named John Doe attempting to murder a young girl. She assumes it’s fiction. Then Mitchell begins showing her more stories, each darker than the last. As she continues to read, she begins to notice parallels between the stories and real life. Is it all just coincidence? Or has she been living with a monster?

The Thin Charade by Cathy Coburn is a tense psychological thriller that will make you question how well you really know the people around you.

I really enjoyed this book. There was so much underlying tension throughout the story. As Barbara begins to suspect that her husband isn’t the person she initially thought, she begins to analyze and question everything. Every conversation and interaction between the two of them had me on edge. I found Barbara’s level of suspicion and trepidation realistic. She knows that there is a chance her husband isn’t the person she thought he was. Suspicions aren’t enough, though. She has to be certain.

I also enjoyed the way the book included both Mitchell’s stories, with John Doe as the main character, and the stories from the perspective of the victims. There were details within each point of view that were unique, so it wasn’t just a simple retelling of the same story. I thought having the victim’s perspective made the stories all that much more nightmarish.

I would give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I thought the plot was unique, and the characters felt realistic and fleshed out. There is also an excellent plot twist near the end that makes the entire story even more unsettling. The only negative thing I have to say about this book is that it was not professionally edited. If it had been professionally edited, I would have given it an additional star.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy psychological and domestic thrillers. While it is implied that John is a rapist and necrophiliac, none of this is described in the story. I would describe this book as dark and disturbing but not graphic.

I look forward to reading more books by this author.

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The Thin Charade
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[Kibet Hillary]

There has always been a serious debate on whether anyone can really know another, as we can only know people as they reveal themselves to others and also through observation and drawing conclusions at times, which can also be misleading. It appears one is in for a journey packed with emotional highs and lows when they pick the book. Thanks for the review, @Maggie Johnson 2.

[Onyemuwa-dave]

Being scared of your loved one, someone who is meant to be your safe spot is really unsettling. I love the entire concept of the novel.

[Gerry Steen]

The suspense must have been over the top. To be living and loving someone who might be a serial killer would be disturbing and sleep depriving. It was a good idea to present the point of views of the main character and the victims. This must have made the story more realistic and resonant. Thank you for reviewing this book.

[NetMassimo]

This novel has an intriguing premise. I'm not surprised that the psychological element is important, and the multiple points of view offer greater depth to the story and adds to the suspense. Thank you for your great review!